The BLC has many amazing volunteers, and many go on to do some really interesting work after leaving the center. Here are two wonderful long term BLC volunteers are where they are today!

Caroline Leung- former weeknight kitchen volunteer applied to the Peace Corps and is now spending her time in Ecuador with children and teaching as a community health volunteer. Caroline talks about her experience so far in Ecuador.

“This photos is from a class I taught recently. A group of us taught the children about HIV/AIDS and about transmission and the differences between HIV and AIDS. Right now, I´m trying to learn more Spanish and I´m getting to know my community a little more. I´m going to start a group called ¿Cuantos Sabes? This group will consist of high school students who will teach their fellow peers about HIV/AIDS after a 2 month program I will be teaching to them. I´ve have been collecting information regarding my students knowledge on sexual education, which is very limited since they don´t have sex ed classes.

I really love children, so I´m also hoping to work teaching about nutrition and hygiene with them. And of course, everyone wants to learn English.

Caroline at the BLC with Volunteer Coordinator Lisa Brown

I´ve been loving life here, there are the ups and downs, but for the most part I´m working with a great community and a great Peace Corps staff. My friends here are incredible and the people could not be kinder. The fruit is addictingly sweet here and now that it´s the rainy season I´m enjoying the 24/7 sound soother of rainfall! I´m out in the campo, coast area, which is extremely rural, sort of like the countryside of the states. The weather is always warm here and the sun is incredibly strong that I wear a long sleeve shirt even though it´s 90 degrees outside. My house is surrounded by rice fields, platano trees, and coconut trees. I have ducks, chickens, dogs, cats, and pigs walking around me when I´m wandering outside. The mosquitos love me!! My host family is great. The culture is welcoming, warm, and familial. And the food is excellent!! “

Our friend Katie Cummings, a former evening coat check volunteer left the BLC last year to volunteer in South Africa with a shark research society. She is now living in Mossel Bay, South Africa and works for the Oceans Society as their Director of Development. http://www.oceans-research.com

You can read about some of her volunteer experiences doing shark research and see pictures of her in action on her blog !

The BLC volunteers are so amazing and diverse and we are so grateful to get to know them. We’d like to thank Caroline and Katie for their service to the BLC and for their commitment to civic engagement around the world!